Red-hot Bolger bags 510/1 treble
The Coolcullen handler, now on the 13-winner mark for the new season, triumphed with Rapid Approach and Morning With Ivan, both ridden by Kevin Manning, and debutante We’ll Go Walking, which created a favourable impression when winning the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden (mile and a half) in the hands of Rory Cleary.
We’ll Go Walking was probably the best prospect to emerge from yesterday’s action as the daughter of Authorized beat Ralston Road convincingly despite showing clear signs of inexperience in the final two furlongs, edging left and right, before staying on well to win by four lengths.
“She’s very like Rehn’s Nest (another Authorized filly). She has to be jollied along and she’s of similar class,” commented Bolger after greeting his third winner of the day. “She’s very light-framed and we have done nothing with her. She keeps backing off the pot when we up the tempo.”
But he added: “Her dam is a full-sister to Teofilo and she’s definitely a black-type filly.”
The Bolger treble had been initiated in the opening seven-furlong maiden when the consistent Rapid Approach lost his maiden tag thanks to his determination in a battle with the flattering Coquette Noire which saw Kevin Manning’s mount prevail by a nose.
“He’s hardy and handles any ground,” said Bolger. “He’s going to the Horses-in-Training Sales in Newmarket next month and should win plenty of races.”
Manning made most of the running on Morning With Ivan which defied top-weight in the Follow Gowran Park On Facebook Handicap to beat Burnt Sienna by a length.
The winning trainer commented: “She always looked like she’d keep improving. She stays well and will stick to a mile until she gets beaten over it.”
The Bolger runs of success had been interrupted, briefly, by another local trainer Tom Foley in the Kilkenny Handicap when eleven-year-old Killena Boy, ridden by Seamus Heffernan, got the better of the Manning-ridden Quill And Vellum by three-quarters of a length.
A delighted Foley stated: “He has always had ability, but has lots of problems and deserved to win. Only for Sharon (his daughter), and all the work she has done with him, I would have given up on him a long time ago.”
Dermot Weld enjoyed a change of luck and got off the mark for the 2013 season when Stuccodor justified 7/4 favouritism in the four-runner Bennettsbridge Rated Race, the blinkered Modigliani gelding getting up, under a strong ride by Pat Smullen, to beat Euphrasia by nose.
“It’s been a very cold spring and my horses have been slow to come to hand,” said a relieved Weld. “The second got a lovely split up the rail but my horse kept going well. He’s a handicapper and that is his right trip.”
Noel Meade also welcomed the success of Curley Bill, which denied Weld and Smullen a double (with Spirit Of Concorde) in the finale, the Thomastown Maiden, in good style. Meade admitted: “I’m very glad to see a winner. The lads backed him and, when I heard he was 16/1, I was tempted to do the same, but decided against it. His dam is a half-sister to Jazz Messenger and he has plenty of speed.”
